Study: Going to Concerts Regularly May Help You Live Longer, Happier Life

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, nearly 32% of all U.S. adults — or 76 million people — attended a live music, theatre, or dance performance in 2015. It’s clear from that data that many of us love going to these events and supporting the performing arts at event venues both near and far. But did you know that going to concerts can actually help you live longer and be happier?

That’s what one recent study (funded by British venue, O2, and led by Goldsmith University behavioral science expert, Patrick Fagan) found. According to their research, attending a concert once every two weeks can actually increase life expectancy by up to nine years. Researchers also maintain that doing so will make you happier, as “the gig experience increased participants’ feelings of well-being by 21%” overall, including a 25% increase in feelings of self-worth and in closeness to others. They also say that mental stimulation due to attending live music performances frequently increased by 75%. They even found that going to music shows showed better results in improving one’s well-being than walking a dog or attending a yoga class. All told, 67% of British individuals surveyed said that experiencing live music makes them happier than listening to music at home. As the researchers noted, this shows that “the shared experience… is key to increasing well-being.”

But while the venue that commissioned this study is more akin to the festival experience that’s skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, it’s not just rock shows that can make you happier and healthier. Other data shows that there are countless benefits of listening to classical music. Whether it’s live in a grand concert hall or on your Spotify playlist in the comfort of your own home, listening to classical music has been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety and depression, lessen physical pain, reduce stress, increase memory, improve sleep quality, increase creativity, and improve productivity. Even if you can’t attend concerts regularly, creating a shared experience that involves classical music can help you connect with others and the world around you. The same can be said for taking music lessons or participating in music therapy.

So if you actually need an excuse to attend more musical theatre, classical performances, or rock shows, there’s ample science to back up the fact that going to these events is actually an investment in your own health. That means it’s more important than ever to support the arts — because when you do so, you’re actually supporting yourself and the people you love. To find out about our varied list of upcoming events that you and your family will be sure to enjoy, please contact us today.